This essay analyzes three poems written by African American poet Amanda Gorman, by carrying out a close reading based on Henry Louis Gates Jr’s theory of Signifying, and concepts from African American and feminist literary criticism. Firstly, a diverse range of Signifying elements are identified on both a structural and figurative level, where distinct rhyming patterns, as well as frequent clustering of alliteration and rhymes are examples of the first, whereas usage of rhetorical and figurative tropes, such as chiasmus and metaphors, are examples of the second level. These findings are then connected to the Signifying concepts of indirect intent and metaphorical reference. The essay concludes that though several intertextual references to racism, racial stereotypes, and a shared cultural heritage are indeed found, there are also passages Signifying a critique of patriarchal structures, which illuminates the experiences of African American women in particular.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:hig-44472 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Berglund, Sofia |
| Publisher | Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för humaniora |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
Page generated in 0.0016 seconds